Los Angeles Maritime Institute’s award-winning TopSail Youth Program exposes youth to a world beyond their communities where they are provided with real-life challenges and hands-on learning opportunities not available in the traditional classroom. Youth who have participated in our program become role models for other youth, demonstrating firsthand the power of at-sea experiences to change lives!

Our TopSail STEM Adventure Program builds on our signature program and expands the STEM framework organic to our program. Tall ships are exciting hands-on STEM learning environments!

Once a month, we provide a coastal awareness educational experience and exploration sail aboard one of our tall ships. The ship departs from Berth 78 in San Pedro for a 2-hour round trip excursion along the coastline.

This volunteer program for ages 13-19 has become well established as a vital component of LAMI’s mission.

While at sea or on land, our summer camps explore topics in marine biology, maritime history, island ecology and have some fun with traditional maritime arts! Youth who participate in our sleepaway camps learn the ropes as they challenge themselves with exciting new opportunities: leaving the dock, setting and adjusting sails, keeping a ship on course, setting the anchor, and living aboard a ship for a week.